Bradford Shopkeepers Praised For Refusing To Sell Knives To Youngsters

Police have praised the attitude of shopkeepers after an operation where teenage cadets attempted to purchase knives.

Officers from the City Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) enlisted the help of four 14-year-old police cadets last Saturday 17th for the initiative.

The cadets went into three separate shops to try and purchase a knife and on each occasion they were refused sale.

Officers visited the shopkeepers afterwards to inform them about the test purchases, which were carried out as part of Operation Jemlock, the force’s response to violent crime.

The operation has seen more than 600 arrests and more than 50 weapons seized since it launched in April after West Yorkshire officers were given greater stop and search powers and just over £4m in additional funding for operations.

Inspector Pete Hall, who leads the City team, said:

“The way the shopkeepers dealt with the cadets was really pleasing and should give the people of Bradford confidence that they are complying with the laws around knife sales.

“We are committed to reducing crime in the city centre and we will be carrying out more of these operations to make sure that those who sell knives are helping us to keep people safe in Bradford District.”

In the UK it is illegal to sell a knife to anyone under the age of 18, unless it has a folding blade of three inches long or less.

Dave Lodge, head of West Yorkshire Trading Standards, said:

“This is obviously a very pleasing result, in connection with what remains a serious concern for many Bradford residents.

“West Yorkshire Trading Standards applaud the work being done by the police around knife crime and we will continue to work with their officers and retailers to reduce instances of underage sale.”